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Top Stories 

✈️ Kenya Airways’ Share Price Surges After NSE Return

Kenya Airways

Kenya Airways’ (KQ) share price almost doubled in the first week of its return to trading at the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE), to become the best stock in capital gains so far this year.

Trading of KQ shares resumed at the NSE on Monday 6th, after a nearly five-year freeze from trading in July 2020, closing at KSh 3.83 per share.

The suspension was lifted on 5th January 2025, owing to the carrier’s improved financial performance and the government’s withdrawal of plans to nationalize the airline.

Just a week after trading resumed, KQ’s stock price jumped 49.6% to KSh 6.30 per share – a 7 year high- but still far below its September 2006 all-time high of KSh 570.96.

The turnaround was buoyed by the government’s move to take on US$641 million in foreign currency debt owed to Exim bank, granting relief to the ailing airline.

Percentage of Shareholders in KQ

Today's Poll

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Last Friday's Poll Results

How do you think the Kenyan stock market (NSE) will perform this year?

‘Fair’ emerged as the most voted option

🪙 Treasury Drafts Policy budgeted at KSh 1.8 bn to Regulate Crypto, Digital Assets

Cryptocurrency

The Treasury has projected that the government will budget about KSh 1.82 billion for the implementation of a draft policy on digital assets such as crypto, which aims to regulate the market and prevent potential risks of money laundering and tax evasion.

🔸In the proposed policy, Treasury estimates a KSh 1 billion budget for the formulation of a comprehensive legal framework.

🔸KSh 400mn for the promotion of financial innovation and literacy in the virtual asset market.

🔸The Treasury also expects that the development of mechanisms to protect consumers and operations in the crypto market would need KSh 120 million to implement.

🔸The policy also includes a proposed KSh 300mn to alleviate existent risks, such as cyber security concerns and data privacy violations, in the Kenyan crypto market.

According to data from Statista, over 700,000 Kenyans use cryptocurrency and the value of the market is set to hit US$40 million this year. This has prompted a policy shift by government in regard to the crypto sector.

🌱 Sasini Sinks Into KSh 562.9 mn Loss on Higher Costs, Supply Chain Disruptions

Tea plantation

Listed agricultural firm Sasini Plc has sank into losses, registering a KSh 562.9 million in loss after tax for the year ended September 2024 compared to a KSh 542.3 million profit in 2023.

🔸The firm attributed the 203.7% decline to high production costs, depressed commodity prices and supply chain disruptions coupled with the foreign exchange impact.

🔸Company revenues increased by 20.4% to KSh 6.9 billion from KSh 5.7 billion in the same period in 2023 with earnings grounded by a faster surge in operational costs.

🔸Sasini saw an increase in the cost of sales by 45.1% to KSh 6.3 billion from KSh 4.4 billion in 2023.

🔸Tea, avocado and macadamia units all exhibited poor performance in the period with only the coffee trading unit recording underwhelming profits.

🔸The market was also affected by the minimum reserve prices set in 2022, which were only suspended in October 2024 by the East African Tea Trade association.

Opinion and Commentary

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May your week be productive 😊